Some state union engineers hit the picket line on Friday for the first rail strike since 1983. About 450 engineers and trainees remain on strike with hopes of getting better pay. Another group of engineers took to the streets of Newark to make their voices heard. Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen National President Mark Wallace attended the rally. “Our members made the decision to strike, not me,” Wallace said. “I authorized the strike, but it's because 100% of the members voted to strike, and so they're in this for the long haul.“ Wallace said he’s waiting on the phone to ring. "We plan on meeting with them on Sunday,” Wallace said. “But why Sunday? Why not today? Why not Saturday? Our negotiation team is prepared and ready to meet at any time New Jersey Transit is willing to meet." Union chairman Tom Haas said he was shocked by how things transpired. "I was really hopeful going in yesterday that we were going to be able to get something accomplished,” Haas said. “So that shock has turned into disappointment that New Jersey Transit really wouldn't come to the table with the kind of wages that we need." A statement on NJ Transit's website says: "NJ TRANSIT locomotive engineers already have average total earnings of $135,000 annually, with the highest earners exceeding $200,000. Under the tentative agreement B.L.E.T. members rejected, locomotive engineers would have averaged $172,856 as of July 1, 2027." It goes on to say, "Under the B.L.E.T.’s proposal, the highest paid engineer’s salary would increase to $314,174 in 2027." "They've been six years without a pay rise," Wallace said. "I think they've shown that they're willing to lay in and get a fair wage." As a settlement had jet to be reached Friday night, strike will impact roughly 350,000 daily riders. The National Mediation Board will also be involved in Sunday's negotiations.